How far along are you: 36 Weeks!
How big is the baby:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she’s in a head-down position. But if she isn’t, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an “external cephalic version,” which is a fancy way of saying she’ll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly. (source)
Baby’s Gender: We both think it’s a girl. <—change
Baby’s Name: We have a name for a boy or a girl. Choosing a boys name was easy for us and was decided upon months ago but the girls name has been a little more challenging but we finally decided on one.
Weight Gained: 25 lbs ish?
Clothes: Mostly just wearing dresses as they are the most comfortable.
How are you feeling: I am feeling pretty good. I actually over did it a little this past weekend because I was feeling so great. Sunday we went for a long walk, swimming, to the market, to a museum and to get a snack which left me a little worried because baby wasn’t moving around as much. I ended up calling the midwives to panic that there was reduced fetal movement but was reassured that if I had felt s/he move at least three times in the last hour things should be fine and that because I was so active that was why the baby wasn’t moving as much. Apparently my walking, swimming, etc is similar to rocking the baby so they felt pretty content to just relax. Monday morning I woke up to lots of movement and this baby has been crazy active since.
What do you miss: I miss the desire to eat normally- I am getting to the point where I am having slight food aversions or just no desire to eat (don’t worry I have had no problem eating just lack of desire). I miss running more and more but I think it’s because I know that soon I will be able to get back to it so there is combination of missing and anxiousness.
Symptoms: ,
- Better ability to breathe. Baby might soon descend into your pelvis, giving your lungs some extra space. (source) I noticed on Wednesday that the baby seemed to move down some because I went from feeling them all up in my ribs and lungs to being able to breathe and my bump is noticeably lower.
- Pelvic discomfort especially when I sleep which has been slightly more difficult
- Oh and more and more heartburn
- Also minor ankle-and-foot swelling.
Cravings: Green Lemonade (greens, apples and/or carrots and lemon). Blueberries. Amy’s refried black beans.
How are you sleeping: Sleeping has been a little more challenging, lately my hips have been bothering me and I’m finding that I am sore in my pelvis now too.
Workouts: This week I went swimming twice, to prenatal yoga and on a few walks. Let me tell you I should have started swimming earlier, it is amazing during pregnancy.
Things I’m looking forward to: Finishing my last two weeks of work. Getting this house in order for the babies arrival. Touring the birth center.
In other news:
We launch Naturally Family!
If you haven’t stop over to our family blog, Naturally Family, then head over now and Meet The Family. We have been discussing this weeks pregnancy ups and downs, our baby bucket list, my labor and deliver fears, what we learned in birthing class, a recap of our babymoon, 10 must-dos before labor and a so much more.
You can also check us out on Facebook and Twitter.
